Phikud Navakot extract attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses through inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation in a coculture system of microglia and neuronal cells

A critical appraisal on the involvement of plant-based extracts as neuroprotective agents (2012-2022): an effort to ease out decision-making process for researchers

The purpose of this review study is to provide a condensed compilation of 164 medicinal plants that have been investigated for their neuroprotective aspects by researchers between the years 2012 and 2022 which also includes a recent update of 2023-2024. After using certain keywords to retrieve the data from SCOPUS, it was manually sorted to eliminate any instances of duplication. The article is streamlined into three major segments. The first segment takes a dig into the current global trend and attempts to decrypt vital information related to plant names, families, plant parts used, and neurological disorders investigated. The second segment of the article makes an attempt to present a comprehensive insight into the various mechanistic pathways through which phytochemicals can intervene to exert neuroprotection. The final segment of the manuscript is a bibliometric appraisal of all researches conducted. The study is based on 256 handpicked articles based on decided inclusion criteria. Illustrative compilation of various pathways citing their activation and deactivation channels are also presented with possible hitting points of various phytochemicals. The present study employed Microsoft Excel 2019 and VOS viewer as data visualisation tools.

Argon neuroprotection in ischemic stroke and its underlying mechanism

Ischemic stroke (IS), primarily caused by cerebrovascular obstruction, results in severe neurological deficits and has emerged as a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Recently, there has been increasing exploration of the neuroprotective properties of the inert gas argon. Argon has exhibited impressive neuroprotection in many in vivo and ex vivo experiments without signs of adverse effects, coupled with the advantages of being inexpensive and easily available. However, the efficient administration strategy and underlying mechanisms of neuroprotection by argon in IS are still unclear. This review summarizes current research on the neuroprotective effects of argon in IS with the goal to provide effective guidance for argon application and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of argon neuroprotection. Early and appropriate argon administration at as high a concentration as possible offers favorable neuroprotection in IS. Argon inhalation has been shown to provide some long-term protection benefits. Argon provides the anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic cytoprotective effects mainly around Toll-like receptor 2/4 (TLR2/4), mediated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-ĸB) and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Therefore, argon holds significant promise as a novel clinical neuroprotective gas agent for ischemic stroke after further researches to identify the optimal application strategy and elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Review of molecular biological research on the treatment of membranous nephropathy with Tripterygium glycosides based on TCM theory

To explore the mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP) in the treatment of membranous nephropathy (MN) by network pharmacology. TCMSP and DrugBank databases were used to screen the main targets of the main active components of Tripterygium glycosides, and OMIM and Gene Cards databases were used to search the gene targets of MN. UniProt database was used to normalize all the targets to get the intersection targets of TGs and MNs. Synergistic genes were uploaded to the STRING platform to construct a protein-protein interaction network and screen related core targets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Genome Encyclopedia analyses of core targets were performed using the DAVID database. AutoDockTools software was used to verify the molecular docking between the active components of TGs and the synergistic genes. We identified 126 potential targets for the active component of Tripterygium glycosides, 584 MN-associated disease targets, and 28 co-acting genes. It mainly involves AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, IL-17 signaling pathway, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, NF-kappa B signaling pathway and other pathways and biological pathways in diabetic complications. The active component of that Tripterygium glycosides and the active site of the synergistic core target can the bond energy is less than -5kJ/mol. Tripterygium glycosides can regulate the release of inflammatory factors to treat MN through multiple active components, multiple disease targets, multiple biological pathways and multiple pathways, which provides a basis for broadening the clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of MN.

Kaempferia parviflora Extracts Protect Neural Stem Cells from Amyloid Peptide-Mediated Inflammation in Co-Culture Model with Microglia

The existence of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress surrounding amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), has been demonstrated and may result in the activation of neuronal death and inhibition of neurogenesis. Therefore, dysregulation of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress is one possible therapeutic target for AD. Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker (KP), a member of the Zingiberaceae family, possesses health-promoting benefits including anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation in vitro and in vivo with a high level of safety; however, the role of KP in suppressing Aβ-mediated neuroinflammation and neuronal differentiation has not yet been investigated. The neuroprotective effects of KP extract against Aβ₄₂ have been examined in both monoculture and co-culture systems of mouse neuroectodermal (NE-4C) stem cells and BV-2 microglia cells. Our results showed that fractions of KP extract containing 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone, and 3,5,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone protected neural stem cells (both undifferentiated and differentiated) and microglia activation from Aβ₄₂-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in both monoculture and co-culture system of microglia and neuronal stem cells. Interestingly, KP extracts also prevented Aβ₄₂-suppressed neurogenesis, possibly due to the contained methoxyflavone derivatives. Our data indicated the promising role of KP in treating AD through the suppression of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress induced by Aβ peptides.

Analysis of the potential molecular biology of triptolide in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy: A narrative review

OBJECTIVE

To explore the potential mechanism of triptolide in diabetic nephropathy (DN) treatment using network pharmacology.

METHODS

The main targets of triptolide were screened using the TCMSP, DrugBank, and NCBI databases, and gene targets of DN were searched using the DrugBank, DisGeNET, TTD, and OMIM databases. All of the above targets were normalized using the UniProt database to obtain the co-acting genes. The co-acting genes were uploaded to the STRING platform to build a protein-protein interaction network and screen the core acting targets. Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analyses of the core targets were performed using Metascape. Molecular docking validation of triptolide with the co-acting genes was performed using the Swiss Dock platform.

RESULTS

We identified 76 potential target points for triptolide, 693 target points for DN-related diseases, and 24 co-acting genes. The main pathways and biological processes involved are lipids and atherosclerosis, IL-18 signaling pathway, TWEAK signaling pathway, response to oxidative stress, hematopoietic function, and negative regulation of cell differentiation. Both triptolide and the active site of the core target genes can form more than 2 hydrogen bonds, and the bond energy is less than -5kJ/mol. Bioinformatics analysis showed that triptolide had a regulatory effect on most of the core target genes that are aberrantly expressed in DKD.

CONCLUSION

Triptolide may regulate the body's response to cytokines, hormones, oxidative stress, and apoptosis signaling pathways in DN treatment by down-regulating Casp3, Casp8, PTEN, GSA3B and up-regulating ESR1, and so forth.